The enormous significance to Māori of marae, as places of belonging where ritual and culture can be preserved, is explored in this Pita Turei-directed documentary. Made in conjunction with the NZ Historic Places Trust, it chronicles the programme to restore marae buildings and taonga around the country — and the challenge of maintaining the tribal heritages expressed in them. As well as visiting some of NZ's oldest marae, one of the newest also features — Tapu Te Ranga, in Wellington’s Island Bay, which is being built from recycled demolition wood.

Key Cast & Crew

Eric Tamepo

Jan Bieringa

The marae outside there is absolutely saturated with the tears of our people, and all the people from the four corners of the land that come here to pay their respects. They’re all out there on that marae, that courtyard. It’s holy ground.